Palau Legal News: RM Towai Hit-N-Run Child; Burning Fishing Boats; Marine Sanctuary
Towai, Hit & Run driver charged
WRITTEN BY L. N. REKLAI
FRIDAY, 06 MAY 2016 01:05
Victim taken off life support and dies
April 26, 2016, Koror, Roger Maris Towai, the suspected driver of a hit & run vehicle that hit an 11 year old Daizon Sechalboi in front of Quik Mart Store at Topside area on April 24 and ran from the scene, was charged with Negligent Injury in the First Degree and Reckless Endangering in the First Degree, both felony charges.
The 11 year old victim, Daizon Sechalboi was put on life support as a result of his serious injuries. According to reports, his heart was slowly failing and his family had to make a difficult decision and on May 3, 2016, had him removed from life support. He passed away that same time.
To date no amended charges of negligent homicide or involuntary manslaughter have been made against Towai but according to Director Aguon of BPS, such charges may be filed if the death is direct result of the incident.
According to Officer Helenda Oimei’s affidavit, on April 24t , a dark blue SUV driven by defendant Roger Towai, was speeding toward Topside on the middle lane passing other vehicles and hit the boy who was identified as 11 year old Daizon Sechalboi.
Towai admitted to his vehicle hitting a young boy and seeing the boy go under his car but he believed that he did not run over his body because “he did not feel the tires bump over anything”, states the police report.
Towai sped away from the scene to PIDC where he left his vehicle and walked home.
A female passenger who was with Towai also reported that she saw the child before their vehicle hit him and she also admitted that Towai sped away, not stopping. She also reported that he stopped and dropped her and her kids off at PICD and drove away.
Roger Towai was arrested on April 25th, 2016. He is currently out on bail awaiting his trail.
http://islandtimes.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1053:towai-hit-a-run-driver-charged-
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Palau to burn illegal fishing boats
WRITTEN BY L. N. REKLAI
THURSDAY, 05 MAY 2016 14:46
May 4, 2016, Koror, President Remengesau Jr. announced that 2 of the Vietnamese fishing boats caught illegally fishing in Palau waters are being prepared to be burned off shore.
“Unfortunately, many of the illegal fishing boats that we capture are just smaller boats with no real value. Of the 3 that were captured, only one can be salvaged and that one will be donated to Peleliu to support their fishery program. The remaining two cannot be salvaged or sold. The engines are too old and not in good condition. They are currently being prepared to be burn, as a message that we don’t tolerate poaching in our waters and also if we do capture you, we make sure you cannot use these to fish again in our waters,” stated President Remengesau in his remarks.
“We do not get much from these small fishing boats. We will just strip them of all fishing gears, find a way to send the deckhands home and prosecute the captains. The real catch is the mothership that buys the fish from these smaller vessels. Once we catch one of those, we can sell them off for millions but we need a good surveillance and capability to catch them. This is where this 5 year plan comes in,” added Remengesau.
During the recent exercise working with private plane, Vietnamese and Philippine fishing boats were identified but with one patrol boat, only 3 of the vietnamese blue boats were apprehended.
http://islandtimes.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1049:palau-to-burn-illegal-fishing-boats
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Palau Marine Sanctuary moves forward
WRITTEN BY ADMINISTRATOR
THURSDAY, 05 MAY 2016 14:26
April 18, 2016, Koror, Palau Marine Sanctuary Executive Committee reported progress in the six components of the PNMS implementation, 1.) Surveillance and Enforcement, 2.) Sustainable Financing, 3.) Tourism and Marketing, 4.) Fisheries and Food Security, 5.) Science and Monitoring, and 6.) Education/Awareness.
Mr. Gerald Miles, Vice President of Global Development of Rare, a non-governmental organization made a presentation of its desire to partner up with PNMS to promote and assist the Sanctuary on a local, national, and global level. It is hoped that with Rare's presence in Palau since 1994 and their experience in building capacity for conservation practitioners and leaders in Micronesia, and their social marketing and technical skills, they can assist towards meeting the goals of the PNMS.
Executive Committee reviewed the following projects, 1.) The progress of the Tuna Project. 2.) The adoption of the Monitoring, Control, & Surveillance (MCS) plan, 3.) The progress of the domestic fisheries project; 4.) The progress of the implementation of the Environmental Impact Fee and Visa Fee; 5.) Fishing Regulations due in April; and 6.) The progress of the Tuna Tagging research project and baseline studies.
The new PNMS office is open now and is located on the second floor of BMR. New staff in addition to Executive Director, Keobel Sakuma, include an Administrative officer, Misty Iluches, and Marketing and Tourism Liaison, Sha Merirei Ongelungel. The PNMS Office has recently initiated the strategic planning process, which will guide the main focus of the PNMS for the next three years.
http://islandtimes.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1043:palau-marine-sanctuary-moves-forward-
WRITTEN BY L. N. REKLAI
FRIDAY, 06 MAY 2016 01:05
Victim taken off life support and dies
April 26, 2016, Koror, Roger Maris Towai, the suspected driver of a hit & run vehicle that hit an 11 year old Daizon Sechalboi in front of Quik Mart Store at Topside area on April 24 and ran from the scene, was charged with Negligent Injury in the First Degree and Reckless Endangering in the First Degree, both felony charges.
The 11 year old victim, Daizon Sechalboi was put on life support as a result of his serious injuries. According to reports, his heart was slowly failing and his family had to make a difficult decision and on May 3, 2016, had him removed from life support. He passed away that same time.
To date no amended charges of negligent homicide or involuntary manslaughter have been made against Towai but according to Director Aguon of BPS, such charges may be filed if the death is direct result of the incident.
According to Officer Helenda Oimei’s affidavit, on April 24t , a dark blue SUV driven by defendant Roger Towai, was speeding toward Topside on the middle lane passing other vehicles and hit the boy who was identified as 11 year old Daizon Sechalboi.
Towai admitted to his vehicle hitting a young boy and seeing the boy go under his car but he believed that he did not run over his body because “he did not feel the tires bump over anything”, states the police report.
Towai sped away from the scene to PIDC where he left his vehicle and walked home.
A female passenger who was with Towai also reported that she saw the child before their vehicle hit him and she also admitted that Towai sped away, not stopping. She also reported that he stopped and dropped her and her kids off at PICD and drove away.
Roger Towai was arrested on April 25th, 2016. He is currently out on bail awaiting his trail.
http://islandtimes.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1053:towai-hit-a-run-driver-charged-
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Palau to burn illegal fishing boats
WRITTEN BY L. N. REKLAI
THURSDAY, 05 MAY 2016 14:46
May 4, 2016, Koror, President Remengesau Jr. announced that 2 of the Vietnamese fishing boats caught illegally fishing in Palau waters are being prepared to be burned off shore.
“Unfortunately, many of the illegal fishing boats that we capture are just smaller boats with no real value. Of the 3 that were captured, only one can be salvaged and that one will be donated to Peleliu to support their fishery program. The remaining two cannot be salvaged or sold. The engines are too old and not in good condition. They are currently being prepared to be burn, as a message that we don’t tolerate poaching in our waters and also if we do capture you, we make sure you cannot use these to fish again in our waters,” stated President Remengesau in his remarks.
“We do not get much from these small fishing boats. We will just strip them of all fishing gears, find a way to send the deckhands home and prosecute the captains. The real catch is the mothership that buys the fish from these smaller vessels. Once we catch one of those, we can sell them off for millions but we need a good surveillance and capability to catch them. This is where this 5 year plan comes in,” added Remengesau.
During the recent exercise working with private plane, Vietnamese and Philippine fishing boats were identified but with one patrol boat, only 3 of the vietnamese blue boats were apprehended.
http://islandtimes.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1049:palau-to-burn-illegal-fishing-boats
-------------------------------------------------------
Palau Marine Sanctuary moves forward
WRITTEN BY ADMINISTRATOR
THURSDAY, 05 MAY 2016 14:26
April 18, 2016, Koror, Palau Marine Sanctuary Executive Committee reported progress in the six components of the PNMS implementation, 1.) Surveillance and Enforcement, 2.) Sustainable Financing, 3.) Tourism and Marketing, 4.) Fisheries and Food Security, 5.) Science and Monitoring, and 6.) Education/Awareness.
Mr. Gerald Miles, Vice President of Global Development of Rare, a non-governmental organization made a presentation of its desire to partner up with PNMS to promote and assist the Sanctuary on a local, national, and global level. It is hoped that with Rare's presence in Palau since 1994 and their experience in building capacity for conservation practitioners and leaders in Micronesia, and their social marketing and technical skills, they can assist towards meeting the goals of the PNMS.
Executive Committee reviewed the following projects, 1.) The progress of the Tuna Project. 2.) The adoption of the Monitoring, Control, & Surveillance (MCS) plan, 3.) The progress of the domestic fisheries project; 4.) The progress of the implementation of the Environmental Impact Fee and Visa Fee; 5.) Fishing Regulations due in April; and 6.) The progress of the Tuna Tagging research project and baseline studies.
The new PNMS office is open now and is located on the second floor of BMR. New staff in addition to Executive Director, Keobel Sakuma, include an Administrative officer, Misty Iluches, and Marketing and Tourism Liaison, Sha Merirei Ongelungel. The PNMS Office has recently initiated the strategic planning process, which will guide the main focus of the PNMS for the next three years.
http://islandtimes.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1043:palau-marine-sanctuary-moves-forward-